The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-11-04

the latter's absence the day before.
While on bis way, the road overseer
mentally prepared several moral lee
lures. which he intended to deliver in
a paternal way to the delinquent
Ganey appreciated the Importance Of
his errand, but when he rode down the
steep hill, approaching Hardness cabin,
his ideas were not so clear as when he
left home, and when he called '.HellOr'
he was at an utter loss as to what to
say.
won't you light" asked Jack,
coming to the door.
Ganey alighted, hitched his horse to
3 tree and entered the house. Mrs.
Hardness was seated in chair, darn.
ing an old stocking. She was large,
muscular woman. and the visitor was
impressed with the Importance of Jacks
undertaking whenever he endeavOred
to chastisc her. The old man opened
the subject by asking Hardness why he
didn't turn out to the woodworking.
''Jest gittin' over spree, explained
Jack, laconically.
''These here sprecs are a-gittin' you
into trouble. jack" said the old man,
with suggestive shake of his head.
and after pause he added. land its
commonly reported that you abuse
your woman
Then followed long pause. Ganey
cleared his throat. took chew of to-
bacco. passed the twist to Jack. and
continued. Yesterday. you see. the
boys had little meetin' after roll-call.
and. and I'm tellin' you fur your own
good; I'm talkin' as a friend o your'n;
and they-that is, the boys. decided
that no fellar that wallops his wife can
stay in Heelstring Deestrict.
There! 1t was out ut last. and tho
road Overseer breathed easier. now
that the ice was broken. Harkness's
eyes sought the floor. while he cndeav-
ored to hide his confusion.
1.-The boys" added. the visitor.
a. 'appinted a committee. of which l
am churman"-
"An' you're a-goin' to run me an
Jack outen the country, are you?" ex-
claimed Mrs. Hardness.
"W'y. no. Mis- Hardness; we"-
"Oh! bat don't know" interrupted
the woman. There ha'int no better
Teller anywhere than Jack when he's
sober, an when he's drunk can take
kere of myself. An you. Il neighbor.
a-comin' in an a-tryin' to run us off
We've got jest as much right here as
you have. Take that! an that!'
And as she spoke, she gave the
chairman two singing blows in the.
face.
''Sary! exclaimed Jack. reproach-
fully. springing in front of her, ''you
do that! He's an old
But Sarah had sunk down upon the
floor, and was crying bitterly. Jim
Gancy had taken the first opportunity
to slip unobservcd out of the house.
and Jack and his wife were alone.
Just how it occurred. the people of
Heelstring never learned. but it was
currently reported that they renewed
the pledges of their counting days. and
Jack was known to declare that "a
woman that 'ud fight for him was
worth treatin' white; but eff it was any
body else, he'd whoop m Jest to show
his spite, an how little use he had fur
the committee"
1t soon became we'll known that
Hardness had renowned his allegiance
to the still-housc interests. The worm
fence around the little bottom field
grew several rails talle-; the cabin was
''ch 'nked;" the pillows disappeared
from the window and glass was substi-
tuted. Jack and Sarah began to wear
better clothes, and even went to church
occasionally.
As to the road ovcrscer-that gentle.
man kept close at home until a slight
under his left eye dis
A few days later, when he
saw the remainder Of the committee.
he made a report favorable both to
and to Jack. and strongly ad.
vocated law and order. EUR" added
he. "rm afcard the t'Other thing mout
not pay. Hits mighty onsartin'. y